Wheaton receives second sidewalk grant

Friday, July 27, 2007By Lisa Schlichtman

Wheaton has received a second sizable grant that will allow the city to construct a new Main Street sidewalk all the way to Highway 86.

A $282,881.75 grant has been awarded to Wheaton through the Transportation Enhancement Program (TEP) administered by the Missouri Department of Transportation. This money will be used to construct a new sidewalk on Main Street from Barrett Street to Highway 86.

"We're thrilled," said Wheaton City Clerk Marianne Witt.

Wheaton was one of only 11 projects in southwest Missouri to receive TEP funding. Other cities that received grant funds included Butler, Carl Junction, El Dorado Springs, Joplin, Neosho and Webb City.

TEP is a federally funded program that pays for up to 80 percent of project costs. According to Witt, the city will be required to provide a 21 percent funding match.

This is the second sidewalk grant the city has received. Last year, Wheaton was awarded $112,248.45 in TEP funding for construction of a new sidewalk linking the school and the city park.

This sidewalk, when completed, will be built along Main Street from McCall Street at the school to Barnett Street at the park. This project also includes lighting.

Bids for construction of the McCall/Barnett sidewalk will be opened on Aug. 1. The city has already budgeted $23,500.71 for the project, which represents a 21 percent match.

Witt said the second phase of the new sidewalk from Barnett to Highway 86 will be bid at a later date. City officials will be attending a meeting on Aug. 28 to discuss the latest round of grant funding.